There unexpectedly is a lot more opportunity for rookie forwards looking to crack the Owen Sound Attack lineup after centre Jarrod Maidens returned home on Saturday with re-occurring post-concussion symptoms.

The 19-year-old Ridgeway native left the Attack on Saturday evening surprising team officials because the Ottawa Senators draft pick had looked solid in training camp after missing almost two full seasons because of a concussion.

"I'm really disappointed for him and not from a hockey standpoint" Attack coach Greg Ireland said on Sunday following Owen Sound's 7-3 loss to the Barrie Colts in Ontario Hockey League exhibition play.

"The time and energy that he put into this and the character that he showed. He came in here and he worked hard and he led and he did everything that was asked of him. My heart breaks (for him) and it was a tough pill to swallow."

General manager Dale DeGray said there is no time table for Maiden's return and no word on what or any rehab he may need to undergo.

"Some symptoms are coming back to get the best of him and he wants to take a little time to address them" DeGray said.

"It's very disappointing but with what he's gone through you're going to be more on the cautionary side."

Maiden's loss leaves a big hole up front for the Attack.

And while first-round pick Ethan Szypula is expected to play a prominent role three other forward prospects have been signed –

Ryan Heeps Jeffrey Gilligan and Justin Brack.

"I think for them the learning process is how hard they have to work and the little details of the game that they need to apply" Ireland said.

"They're used to being able to get away with certain things at the minor hockey level and it's different here. It's only Sept. 1 right now so the teaching process begins and now we've got some video to work with."

Gilligan and Heeps both played on Sunday looking nervous in Owen Sound's 7-3 loss to visiting Barrie.

"It's a great organization here and it's always exciting when a team wants to sign you" said Heeps.

"It's a rebuilding here and I'll learn a lot from (Ireland). I was a little nervous at the start (of Sunday's game) but I calmed down as it went on and I learned a lot from it."

The five-foot-nine 157-pound Heeps was a third-round pick in June's OHL Priority draft from the Oshawa Kinsmen.